Free child car seat check events are happening locally over the next few months for parents, parents-to-be and caregivers. Whether this is your first time installing a car seat in preparation for the arrival of a new baby or you’ve done this many times, installing car seats correctly can be tricky.
Only one in four car seats are installed correctly according to national data. That’s in part because every car seat and vehicle is different and as your child grows, how they sit in your car will change.
Event details
Car seat check events will take place at AAA store parking lot in Tukwila 17250 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila. All events are Thursdays from 11:00am to 2:00 pm.
Parents and caregivers can get support in fitting their children securely in car seats at events hosted by Public Health – Seattle & King County and SafeKids Seattle & South King County.
- May 16
- June 20
- July 18
- August 15
- September 19
Appointments are recommended but not required. Please call 206-744-3547 or email safekids@uw.edu to make an appointment. Car seat checks take approximately 30 minutes per car seat.
Ongoing car seat check
events
There are several ongoing child safety seat check-up events in the Puget Sound
area.
Seattle Children’s Hospital offers free quarterly
car seat checks.
Check the Washington
Safety Restraint Coalition website for additional locations and schedules.
Recommendations for
child use
The American Academy
of Pediatrics recommends keeping children in rear facing seats until they are
at least two years old or until they have reached the maximum height and weight
limits of the car seat as allowed by the manufacturer.
Benefits of car seats
Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71
percent, according to national research. Nationally, of the 461 children under
the age of 8 who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2016, one quarter were not
restrained in an infant car seat, booster or seat belt.
For more information about the child care seat check events, please contact Alan Abe, King County Emergency Medical Services Division at 206-263-8544.
Originally posted on 5/14/19